Happenings and Foodstuffs at the Patch

October Co-op Cooking Classes

The leaves on the trees are changing into their fall finery, there’s a hint of wood smoke on the air, frost greets you as you leave your house each morning, and BriarPatch offers cooking classes that are sure to warm you up – it must be autumn in Nevada County.

Mike Jackson, an employee in BriarPatch’s meat department, will teach “The Art of French Cooking” on October 17. As they cook Chicken Fricassee and Creamy Tarragon Peas, the class will also learn how to de-bone a chicken as well as temper eggs in order to make a thick and savory sauce. Jackson began cooking in earnest as a teenager and has spent his life perfecting the art of fast and efficient cooking. He is excited to share his knowledge and kitchen skills.

Wendy Van Wagner will share her culinary skills on October 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with “Under the Sea: Delicious and unique ways to prepare the perfect fish.” Cooking fish can feel like a mystery sometimes – how to avoid over-cooking it, how to season it, and how to make it interesting. This new class focuses on favorite ways to prepare and enjoy fish and will make Fish Tagine with potatoes, tomatoes, and olives. Made in the Moroccan tradition, this dish features tantalizing spices, and best of all, it can be done in a covered pan. Van Wagner will also teach how to roast a whole fish stuffed with limes, scallions, thyme, and more. To finish, they’ll make seared Ahi tuna to perfection with a special side salad.

Finally, enjoy Halloween in the BriarPatch Community Kitchen. Forget the candy and ghosts – celebrate October 31 with Stephanie Mandel and Hilary Dart by honoring the glorious pumpkin. First, the class will each carve a Jack-O-Lantern to take home. Then they’ll taste pumpkin pie cooked right in the pumpkin (gluten free!), and help make pumpkin bread and/or cookies.

More classes and descriptions are listed at http://www.briarpatch.coop. Co-op classes are held on Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the BriarPatch Community Kitchen, 648 Zion Street in Nevada City. The fee for most classes (which includes a share of what’s being cooked) is just $30 for BriarPatch owners, and $35 for the general public. For more information or to pre-register, call BriarPatch at 272-5333×129, email MellisaH@briarpatch.coop, or sign-up and pay for the class online.